Suggs, Fant To Miss Opening Weekend
By: Mike Irwin
Updated: February 8, 2013
Razorback baseball coach Dave Van Horn revealed on media day that veteran pitchers Colbi Suggs and Randall Fant will sit out the team's season opening weekend due to injuries. Suggs pulled a muscle in his rib cage while Fant has a strained hamstring.
Fant is in the mix to be one of Arkansas' weekend starters this season. Suggs is considered to be one of the top returning relief pitchers in college baseball this season.
Neither injury is believed to be serious but Van Horn is in no hurry to rush the two back into action. His pitching staff is simply too deep to take any unnecessary risks.
"It might be a blessing in disguise," Van Horn told reporters. "Get some guys some experience. Get some young guys out there. Some guys that normally might not get to pitch as much."
Two of the "young guys" are Mountain Home freshman right-handed pitcher Trey Killian, who may end up as a midweek starter for the Hogs and Flower Mound, Texas freshman left-hander Colin Posche. Van Horn says Posche has done a bunch of growing up since his arrest last month on shoplifting charges.
Another new face on the mound is junior college transfer Thomas Altimont, a right hander out of Southlake, Texas. Friday night starter Ryne Stanek listed Altimont as among the four most impressive performers in preseason scrimmages along with Saturday starter Barrett Astin, reliever Brandon Moore, and Suggs.
It is a given that Arkansas returns one of the top pitching staffs in college baseball. Suggs offered his thoughts as to why it is so respected.
"We have a ton of expereince on this staff and we're all feeding off each other's leadership," Suggs told a crowd of reporters who circled him in Arkansas' lockerroom. "We don't have to rely on one or two guys or the same guys every day for that leadership."
"This is the SEC," Suggs continued. "This is the men's league. We've all learned how to pitch a little bit more. How to live down in the zone and not try to overpower every single person who steps in the box."
If the strength of the Razorbacks stable of hurlers is unquestioned hitting coach Todd Butler admits that questions remain with regard to the team's hitting.
"That's still to be determined," Butler answered when asked if Arkansas would be improved offensively in 2013. "As long as we have these bats home runs are a wasted discussion. What we need is a leadoff hitter who can get on base and steal bases. We need a guy who can steal a base when the game's on the line. When everyone in the park knows they're going to pick five, six times and they finally go to the plate and we steal the bag anyway."
"Quality bats," Butler concluded. "Having quality at bats. The batting average is not as important as scoring runs."
Media day concluded with a lengthy scrimmage. Redshirt freshman Tyler Spoon was one of several batters who successfully challenged Moore during the last part of the intrasquad game. Spoon is in the mix for a spot in the outfield after sitting out the 2012 season. He is Moore's former teammate at Van Buren High and his current college roommate.
"Our hitters are doing unbelievable this year so far," Moore raved. "Of course we haven't played a game yet but I have full confidence that they're going to come out and perform."
Darkness was just starting to settle in at Buam Stadium when the scrimmage ended. To Van Horn the day had been yet another opportunity for the top ranked Hogs to get better as a team. He admits that the players are anxious to get started on a journey that will hopefully take them back to the College World Series where they finshed in the final four in 2012.
"We can't get to Omaha today," Van Horn stressed. "We've got to just practice today. Get better this weekend and obviously continue to get better throughout the season to give ourselves a chance."
Stanek will get the start when the Razorbacks open up with a Friday home game against Western Illinois at 3:05 p.m.
Fant is in the mix to be one of Arkansas' weekend starters this season. Suggs is considered to be one of the top returning relief pitchers in college baseball this season.
Neither injury is believed to be serious but Van Horn is in no hurry to rush the two back into action. His pitching staff is simply too deep to take any unnecessary risks.
"It might be a blessing in disguise," Van Horn told reporters. "Get some guys some experience. Get some young guys out there. Some guys that normally might not get to pitch as much."
Two of the "young guys" are Mountain Home freshman right-handed pitcher Trey Killian, who may end up as a midweek starter for the Hogs and Flower Mound, Texas freshman left-hander Colin Posche. Van Horn says Posche has done a bunch of growing up since his arrest last month on shoplifting charges.
Another new face on the mound is junior college transfer Thomas Altimont, a right hander out of Southlake, Texas. Friday night starter Ryne Stanek listed Altimont as among the four most impressive performers in preseason scrimmages along with Saturday starter Barrett Astin, reliever Brandon Moore, and Suggs.
It is a given that Arkansas returns one of the top pitching staffs in college baseball. Suggs offered his thoughts as to why it is so respected.
"We have a ton of expereince on this staff and we're all feeding off each other's leadership," Suggs told a crowd of reporters who circled him in Arkansas' lockerroom. "We don't have to rely on one or two guys or the same guys every day for that leadership."
"This is the SEC," Suggs continued. "This is the men's league. We've all learned how to pitch a little bit more. How to live down in the zone and not try to overpower every single person who steps in the box."
If the strength of the Razorbacks stable of hurlers is unquestioned hitting coach Todd Butler admits that questions remain with regard to the team's hitting.
"That's still to be determined," Butler answered when asked if Arkansas would be improved offensively in 2013. "As long as we have these bats home runs are a wasted discussion. What we need is a leadoff hitter who can get on base and steal bases. We need a guy who can steal a base when the game's on the line. When everyone in the park knows they're going to pick five, six times and they finally go to the plate and we steal the bag anyway."
"Quality bats," Butler concluded. "Having quality at bats. The batting average is not as important as scoring runs."
Media day concluded with a lengthy scrimmage. Redshirt freshman Tyler Spoon was one of several batters who successfully challenged Moore during the last part of the intrasquad game. Spoon is in the mix for a spot in the outfield after sitting out the 2012 season. He is Moore's former teammate at Van Buren High and his current college roommate.
"Our hitters are doing unbelievable this year so far," Moore raved. "Of course we haven't played a game yet but I have full confidence that they're going to come out and perform."
Darkness was just starting to settle in at Buam Stadium when the scrimmage ended. To Van Horn the day had been yet another opportunity for the top ranked Hogs to get better as a team. He admits that the players are anxious to get started on a journey that will hopefully take them back to the College World Series where they finshed in the final four in 2012.
"We can't get to Omaha today," Van Horn stressed. "We've got to just practice today. Get better this weekend and obviously continue to get better throughout the season to give ourselves a chance."
Stanek will get the start when the Razorbacks open up with a Friday home game against Western Illinois at 3:05 p.m.
